Car-brake



(No Model.)

M. V. MEYEBS.

GAR BRAKE.

No. 307,405. Patented Oct. 28, 1884.

MARTIN V. MEYERS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,4:05, dated October28, 188%.

Application filed Jur 16, 188-1. (No model.)

To all whom it may, concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN V. Mnrnns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Go- .lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Brakes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in car-brakes in which a verticalshaft having the brake-chain attached thereto and adapted to be woundthereon is revolved by a brakewheel at its upper end, and is held inplace by means of a ratchet-wheel and pawl, to which my invention moreparticularly relates; and the objects of my invention "are, first, toprovide means whereby the brake is set auto matically; second, to coverthe ratchet-wheel .and pawl in such manner as to exclude rain or snowtherefrom, and thus prevent the clogging of the parts. I attain theseobjects in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whiehFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved canbrakc. Fig. 2 is asectional view of the ratchet-coverin g, showing my invention inposition for operation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ratchet-wheel. Fig.4 is a view of the under side of the ratchet covering or cap. Fig. 5 isa sectional view taken on line x m of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 represents thepawl.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

A represents the brake-shaft, of the usual construction, on which isrigidly fixed at a point near the top of the car a ratchet-wheel, B,having a circular arrangement of teeth on its upper surface, said teethbeing preferably slightly flattened at their edges.

0 represents the end of the top or roof of a car, through which thebrakeshaft A passes, and to which is bolted by means of bolts d (Z d acircular cap or cover, D, its upper surface being slightly conical,andprovided with a central opening, through which the shaft A passes. Thecover D is formed with the central p0rtion of its under surfacedepressed to receive the ratchet-wheel B and pawl E. This cover ispreferably secured to the top of the car near and somewhat overlappingits end. The pawl E is formed of a piece of flattened metal, with acentral slot for the passage of the shaft, having on its lower surface asegmental arrangement of teeth projecting therefrom, as shown in Fig; 6of the drawings, andislooselybolted or pivoted at e in the side of thecap or cover D, which overhangs the end of the car, its outer endpassing downward and outward be neath the side of the cap, and thenceupward to form a lever. .The teeth forming the segment upon the undersurface of the pawl are normally engaged with the teeth upon the wheelB, and at each partial revolution of the brake-shaft become engaged withthe succeeding teeth of the ratchet, dropping by its own weight. Then itis desired to disengage the pawl from the ratchet, a slight pressureupon the outer extremity of the pawl-lever with the foot, and at thesame time a partial turn of the brake-wheel to the right with the handsin order to disengage the teeth of the pawl from the ratchet, willelevate the pawl into a subdepression formed in the cap for itsreception and allow the wheel to reverse until the brake-chain isunwound. On the right side of this sub-depression an oblique offset iscut, having its greater surface, which is about onecighth of an inch, atthe end nearest the ment, and against the shoulder thus formed rests theside of the pawl while the teeth are engaged, thus preventing the pawlfrom slipping into the sub-depression by a more pressure on the lever;but by a partial turn of the brake-wheel the pawl is disengaged from theshoulder and may be raised into the depres 51011.

In order to further prevent the passage of snow or water into the cap D,I inclose that portion of the brake-shaft immediately above andadjoining the cap D Wit-h a smaller coneshaped cap, (1, which is adaptedto turn off the water.

It is well known that when water is allowed to reach the pawl or ratchetof a brake it is liable to freeze and clog the parts. This, as will beseen, is obviated by the use of my invention. The cap D also presents abearing for the brake-shaft, making the use of the plates or stirrupsusually used unnecessary.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the cap or ratchetcover D ancla combined pawland lever hinged A, ratchet B, pawl and lever E a, and bolts (1, in theside thereof, of the brake-shaft and substantially as and for thepurpose specified. ratchet-Wheel havin a circular arrangement of teethupon its upper surface, substantially MARTIN MEYERS as and for thepurpose specified.

2. The combination, with the cap or ratchetcover D and small cap (2, ofthe brake-shaft WVitnesses:

O. O. SHEPHERD, W. D. ROMAINE.

